Albert Hammond Jr. Knocks MLB All-Star Party Out of the Park

The Stroke hit a homerun with his hometown crowd to launch his new album and baseball's All-Star festivities.

It was a humid, rainy night in New York last night (July 9), but that didn’t stop concertgoers from packing the house at the Hiro Ballroom to see Albert Hammond Jr. The celeb-studded (sightings included Gossip Girl Leighton Meester) All-Star Party — presented by MLB, 2K Sports, Nintendo Wii and SPIN — brought together two all-time American pasttimes: baseball and rock.

Attendees enjoyed virtual baseball (courtesy of Wii) and copious amounts of beer as they hung out comfortably like it was any old night at the bar. That is until Hammond showed up and the room’s attention diverted to the stage.

Kicking things off with “Everyone Gets a Star” from his solo debut, Yours to Keep, Hammond and his band were all smiles as they operated like the proverbial well-oiled machine. They stayed true to the studio versions of most songs, but their tightness and energy kept them fresh, held down by a rock-solid disco rhythm section. Watching Hammond and co., it was clear the audience were not the only ones feeling it.

We Asked: Baseball’s All-Star Game is just five days away. If you were a major league player, what song would be your theme music as you stepped to the plate?